All Saved but One
A terrible storm swept the Atlantic and hurled the billows upon the coast of England and a ship was thrown on the rocks. The night fell dark and lowering. The storm rose higher as the night deepened. Fires were kindled all along the shore, if by any means to help those who were needing help. The lifeboat was manned. Out through the breakers and into the storm they went to the rescue. By and by they came back with all on board except one man; and John Holden, who stood upon the shore, cried: “Do you have all the ship’s company?”
They answered, “All but one man.”
“Why did you not get him?”
“Well, our strength was nearly gone, and if we had tarried long enough to rescue him we all should have been engulfed in the pitiless sea.” Then John Holden said: “These men who have been to the rescue are nearly exhausted. Who is there who will go with me to rescue the one man?” and six sturdy fellows came promptly forward. Then John Holden’s mother threw her arms about his neck and said, “John, don’t you go! Your father was swallowed up by the angry ocean, and your brother William two years ago went out upon the sea, and I fear that he is lost, too, for we have not heard of him since. You are the pillar of my life and my only dependence. Who will care for me if the sea swallows you also?” Then John Holden, with his firm, strong grasp, took those arms in which he had reposed in innocent infancy and removed them from his neck; and then he said, as he gently pushed his mother aside: “There is a man there drowning, and I must go, mother. If the sea should swallow me, God will take care of you; I’m sure He will.” Kissing her furrowed cheek, he turned and stepped into the lifeboat which was already manned. They pushed out into the breakers and to the wreck. They found the man still clinging to the rigging, and, getting him into the boat, they pulled back to the shore. As the boat neared the shore, someone shouted, “Have you found the man?” “Yes,” answered John Holden, “and rescued him; and say to my mother that he is my brother William!”
They answered, “All but one man.”
“Why did you not get him?”
“Well, our strength was nearly gone, and if we had tarried long enough to rescue him we all should have been engulfed in the pitiless sea.” Then John Holden said: “These men who have been to the rescue are nearly exhausted. Who is there who will go with me to rescue the one man?” and six sturdy fellows came promptly forward. Then John Holden’s mother threw her arms about his neck and said, “John, don’t you go! Your father was swallowed up by the angry ocean, and your brother William two years ago went out upon the sea, and I fear that he is lost, too, for we have not heard of him since. You are the pillar of my life and my only dependence. Who will care for me if the sea swallows you also?” Then John Holden, with his firm, strong grasp, took those arms in which he had reposed in innocent infancy and removed them from his neck; and then he said, as he gently pushed his mother aside: “There is a man there drowning, and I must go, mother. If the sea should swallow me, God will take care of you; I’m sure He will.” Kissing her furrowed cheek, he turned and stepped into the lifeboat which was already manned. They pushed out into the breakers and to the wreck. They found the man still clinging to the rigging, and, getting him into the boat, they pulled back to the shore. As the boat neared the shore, someone shouted, “Have you found the man?” “Yes,” answered John Holden, “and rescued him; and say to my mother that he is my brother William!”